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Olton Golf Club, Solihull, West Midlands. (1893 - 1903)
Founded in November 1893 by James Power Heaton.
The course was situated on farmland on St Bernard’s Road, Olton. Originally a nine-hole course, laid out by Lindsay G Ross, Sutton Coldfield Professional. It was extended to 18-holes in 1901.
The club moved to its current location in 1903.
Report on the new nine-hole course in January 1894.
"Golf" Friday 26 January 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Report of the first competition played in January 1894.
"Golf" Friday 16 February 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Unhappy local writes to the local paper in February 1894.
Birmingham Daily Post Friday 9 February 1894. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Birmingham Suburban Times Saturday 5 September 1896. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Golf Friday 14 May 1897. Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Result of the November 1897 monthly medal; J P Heaton, 100-16-84; G Godfrey, 106-20-86; T S Harfield, 104-15-89; E M Evans jun., 119 - 22-97; H Huggins, 111-13-98.
Below is the result of a club match played against Handsworth at Olton in December 1897. Handsworth were not at full strength and suffered a heavy defeat.
| Olton Golf Club | Handsworth Golf Club | ||
| W M Cox | 3 | A Bragg | 0 |
| C Hoskins | 6 | W Hogben | 0 |
| A Strynor | 7 | G H Pearson | 0 |
| H Strynor | 1 | R M Hills | 0 |
| H Huggins | 0 | Rev J R Worthington | 0 |
| J E Hill | 10 | W Best | 0 |
| 27 | 0 |
In September 1901 The Midland Professional Tournament was held at Olton. The weather was ideal and the course was in perfect condition, the greens playing excellently. Thirty five professionals took part and the following were the leading scores; J Sherlock (Oxford) 74+72, 146; H Cawsey (Malvern) 76+71, 147; J Kinnell (Norwich) 73+74, 147; W Lewis (King’s Norton) 77+72, 149; A Lewis (Burton) 78+73, 151; F Wingate (Harborne) 77+75, 152; T Williamson (Notts) 76+76, 152; G H Cawsey (Malvern) 77+76, 153; C L Wingate (Olton) 74+80, 154; R Munro (Chislehurst) 77+77, 154.
Result of a match played in May 1902.
Coventry Evening Telegraph Monday 26 May 1902.Image © Reach plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
The entry for Olton Golf Club in the 1905 Nisbet's Yearbook includes a mention for the recent new course - "The course is situated six miles from Birmingham on the GWR line to Warwick and is a new 18-hole course rapidly getting into order. It is the longest course in the midlands with a large number of good length holes. An excellent large farmhouse serves for a clubhouse, approached by a winding drive, with stabling and motor house, surrounded by picturesque woods - J Ernest Hill, secretary."
The former course on St Bernard's Road, (now occupied by the Robin Hood Golf Club) can be seen on the map below. The other course, to the west, is the former Robin Hood course.
Ordnance Survey Map © Crown Copyright {1905}
Robin Hood Golf Club eventually moved to the St Bernard’s Road course at the time of WW1 (see Robin Hood listing.)